Diversity on East 6th Street

 

Beginning in the 1890’s the ethnic variation of the East 6th Street businesses began to increase, racial diversity was one of its most striking characteristics.  In the early 20th century there were businesses on East 6th Street owned by Lebanese, Black, Danish, Swedish Jewish, German, Chinese and Mexican Americans. 

522 East 6th, E. H. Carrington, a former slave, operated a highly successful grocery store at the location from 1873 to 1907. 

From Ireland, Sheehan father and son Dennis worked near the washerwoman station as Tailors.

701 East 6th Street was the business of Swedish immigrant Claus Lundell. He operated a grocery and feed store and wagon yard.

 Schneider a German immigrant had a saloon at 515 East 6th Street.

The Joe Lung was from China. He and his family had a restaurant on 6th Street and San Jacinto.

Below is information about other people living and working on East 6th Street from the Federal Census from 1900. Note there are two mentions of 317 East 6th Street. This was the St. Mary’s Academy a day school and boarding school run by the Sisters of the holy Cross. Also, at 424 East 6th Street was a boarding house where Mr. Jennings lived as a single man and did the Schuwirtz family from Germany.